10 Best: Ridgewood Shootout

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The basketball continued on Sunday at the Ridgewood Shootout!&nbsp; It was a double header of games from Ridgewood High School of Taft vs Ridgewood followed by Metea Valley vs St. Patrick.&nbsp; Here we dive into the prospects from the event in <strong>10 Best: Ridgewood Shootout</strong>!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2321394' first='Lucas' last='Melendez'] (Ridgewood – 2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coach Mroz told me Melendez was flying under the radar.&nbsp; Man was he right!&nbsp; The 5'11” point guard went off in Ridgewood's victory on Sunday against Taft dropping 37 points!&nbsp; Very crisp pull up game from the mid-range and shot it well from three working off movement.&nbsp; Also has a really nice floater game and displayed crisp ball handling off the bounce.&nbsp; Very good feel for the game playing with patience and was a sound passer as well. &nbsp;Quality football prospect as well.&nbsp; For hoops he would be a dynamite small college scoring lead guard.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1598704' first='Frank' last='Paszkowski'] (Taft – 2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Taft 6'3” senior is a broad shouldered wing that can really knock down shots.&nbsp; Touch and a clean release on his shot.&nbsp; Good frame and long arms.&nbsp; At the small college level he can even play some small ball four as a stretch guy.&nbsp; Went for 14 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Nathan Serrano (Taft – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Liked the feel this sophomore point guard showed.&nbsp; Not super tall but has a long and lean frame which means he will probably continue to grow.&nbsp; Slick ball handler that flashed some passing instincts.&nbsp; He had 12 points.&nbsp; Definitely worth keeping tabs on.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Neveah Hawkins (St. Patrick – 2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. Patrick won big over Metea Valley.&nbsp; Hawkins played the best we have seen him.&nbsp; The 6'6” rangy combo forward didn't start the game, but came off the bench with purpose as he was a pogo stick on the offensive glass for multiple put backs including several and-1s.&nbsp; Slipped to the rim for a couple dunks and finished dump off passes with slams.&nbsp; Wiry and athletic forward that when he plays like this is super impactful especially on the defensive end with his anticipation getting in passing lanes.&nbsp; He had 17 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1385287' first='EJ' last='Breland'] (St. Patrick – 2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Breland is the top prospect on St. Patrick.&nbsp; The lead guard plays with good pace and under control.&nbsp; Shot it well from deep in this one hitting a trio from distance including one from beyond NBA range.&nbsp; Creative ball handler and acrobatic finisher had 11 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2104971' first='AJ' last='Thomas'] (St. Patrick – 2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The more I see Thomas the more I like what he brings to the table.&nbsp; Senior point guard is a plus perimeter defender that gets in his man's grill creating turnovers and putting constant pressure on the ball.&nbsp; Offensively he handles it well and was outstanding as a passer on slip passes and finding shooters.&nbsp; As a scorer himself he scored from all three levels racking up 11 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>RJ Mcpartlin (St. Patrick – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Emerging prospect that caught our attention in this game.&nbsp; Started out the game well blocking several shots, getting on the glass for a put back, and finishing a dump off for 4 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1978583' first='Will' last='Ashford'] (Metea Valley – 2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Continue to not understand what I am missing as to why Ashford doesn't have D2 schools banging down his door.&nbsp; He is a combo forward with strength and size that brings a great deal of versatility to the table.&nbsp; He moves laterally on defense and has greatly improved on that end.&nbsp; Offensively he is a plus shooter from two and more than capable as a spot up guy from deep.&nbsp; Can also post up getting deep position for scores in the paint.&nbsp; Had 14 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2374459' first='James' last='Parker'] (Metea Valley – 2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Unfortunately Parker who burst on our radar a earlier this season left this one with an injury.&nbsp; Before he left he managed 8 points showing his shiftiness off the bounce and hit a three for 8 points.&nbsp; Small college guard.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1545139' first='Jake' last='Nosek'] (Metea Valley – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nosek is a long and lanky five that can stretch with his shooting.&nbsp; Similar to the last game we saw him knock in a pair of triples off the catch, rim for a dunk, and block several shots.&nbsp; Very intriguing with his tools and shooting.&nbsp; He had 8 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 blocks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->